‘ Too much data’ caused R rate glitch

BRISTOL’S Covid-19 rate only looks like it has doubled this week because of a data flow “glitch”, according to the city’s public health boss.

Christina Gray said the figure had shot up from 22 to 42.5 cases per 100,000 people but is likely to be closer to 30, with some cases linked to the universities.

South Gloucestershire’s number also spiked due to a fault in the test and trace system – reportedly caused by too much data in an

Excel spreadsheet – but North Somerset’s had remained stable, she said.

On Tuesday, Ms Gray told Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire clinical commissioning group leaders: “The national rate has gone very quickly from 30 cases per 100,000 to over 100 in seven days. In the South West, our local authorities are continuing to hold well. We were at the bottom rates across all the regions and continue to be so.”